Edge lit locally dimmed display

ABSTRACT

An edge lit locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The light source is positioned at an edge and behind the spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/410,125 filed on 24 Mar. 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/831,749 filed on 31 Jul. 2007, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/702,839 filed on 5Feb. 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/351,962 filed on 10 Feb. 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/112,428 filed on 22 Apr. 2005, which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/469,473 (accorded thefiling date of 27 Aug. 2003), which is the U.S. National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/CA02/00255 filed on 27 Feb. 2002 andentitled HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE DISPLAY DEVICES, which claims the benefit ofthe filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/271,563filed on 27 Feb. 2001 and entitled HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE COLOUR DISPLAY ANDPROJECTION TECHNOLOGY.

The claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertakenwithin the scope of a joint research agreement as defined under 35U.S.C. 103(c) between the National Sciences and Engineering ResearchCouncil of Canada, Lorne Whitehead of the University of BritishColumbia, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger and Hugh Wilson of York University, andAvi Chaudhuri of McGill University.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to displays for displaying digital images.

BACKGROUND

Dynamic range is the ratio of intensity of the highest luminance partsof a scene and the lowest luminance parts of a scene. For example, theimage projected by a video projection system may have a maximum dynamicrange of 300:1.

The human visual system is capable of recognizing features in sceneswhich have very high dynamic ranges. For example, a person can look intothe shadows of an unlit garage on a brightly sunlit day and see detailsof objects in the shadows even though the luminance in adjacent sunlitareas may be thousands of times greater than the luminance in the shadowparts of the scene. To create a realistic rendering of such a scene canrequire a display having a dynamic range in excess of 1000:1. The term“high dynamic range” means dynamic ranges of 800:1 or more.

Modern digital imaging systems are capable of capturing and recordingdigital representations of scenes in which the dynamic range of thescene is preserved. Computer imaging systems are capable of synthesizingimages having high dynamic ranges. However, current display technologyis not capable of rendering images in a manner which faithfullyreproduces high dynamic ranges.

Blackham et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,142 discloses a system forprojecting an image onto a screen. The system has first and second lightmodulators which both modulate light from a light source. Each of thelight modulators modulates light from the source at the pixel level.Light modulated by both of the light modulators is projected onto thescreen.

Gibbon et al., PCT application No. PCT/US01/21367 discloses a projectionsystem which includes a pre modulator. The pre modulator controls theamount of light incident on a deformable mirror display device. Aseparate pre-modulator may be used to darken a selected area (e.g. aquadrant).

There exists a need for cost effective displays capable of reproducing awide range of light intensities in displayed images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides displays for displaying images and methods fordisplaying images. One aspect of the invention provides a displaycomprising: a light source; a first spatial light modulator located tomodulate light from the light source; a display screen comprising asecond spatial light modulator; and, an optical system configured toimage light modulated by the first spatial light modulator onto a firstface of the display screen.

Another aspect of the invention provides a display comprising: a lightsource; a first spatial light modulator located to modulate light fromthe light source, the first spatial light modulator comprising an arrayof controllable pixels; and, a second spatial light modulator located tomodulate light modulated by the first spatial light modulator the secondspatial light modulator comprising an array of controllable pixels;wherein each pixel of one of the first and second spatial lightmodulators corresponds to a plurality of pixels of the other one of thefirst and second light modulators.

Another aspect of the invention provides a display device comprising:first spatial modulation means for providing light spatially modulatedat a first spatial resolution; second spatial modulation means forfurther spatially modulating the light at a second resolution differentfrom the first resolution; and, means for controlling the first andsecond spatial modulation means to display an image defined by imagedata.

A still further aspect of the invention provides a method for displayingan image having a high dynamic range. The method comprises: generatinglight, spatially modulating the light according to image data in a firstlight modulating step; and, imaging the spatially modulated light onto ascreen comprising a light modulator.

Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments ofthe invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a display according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a specific implementation of thedisplay of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a display according to analternative embodiment of the invention comprising four spatial lightmodulators;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a rear-projection-type displayaccording to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a front-projection-type displayaccording to a still further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a possible relationship between pixelsin a higher-resolution spatial light modulator and pixels in alower-resolution spatial light modulator in a display according to theinvention;

FIG. 5A illustrates an effect of providing one light modulator which haslower resolution than another light modulator;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a front-projection-type colordisplay having an alternative projector construction;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are expanded cross-sectional views of portions of thefront-projection screen of the color display of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating how light imaged onto a higher-resolutionlight modulator from pixels of a lower-resolution light modulator canoverlap to yield a smooth variation in light intensity with position;and,

FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating how the variation in light intensitywith position for the image of a pixel of a light modulator can berepresented as the convolution of a square profile and a spreadfunction.

DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention.However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. Inother instances, well known elements have not been shown or described indetail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, ratherthan a restrictive, sense.

This invention provides displays capable of rendering images with highdynamic ranges. Displays according to the invention comprise two lightmodulating stages. Light passes through the stages in series to providean image which has an increased dynamic range.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a display 10 according to a simpleembodiment of the invention. The sizes of elements and distances betweenthem in FIG. 1 are not to scale. Display 10 comprises a light source 12.Light source 12 may, for example, comprise a projection lamp such as anincandescent lamp or an arc lamp, a laser, or another suitable source oflight. Light source 12 may comprise an optical system comprising one ormore mirrors, lenses or other optical elements which cooperate todeliver light to the rest of display 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, light from light source 12 is directedtoward a first light modulator 16. Light source 12 preferably providessubstantially uniform illumination of first light modulator 16. Lightmodulator 16 comprises an array of individually addressable elements.Light modulator 16 may comprise, for example, a LCD (liquid crystaldisplay), which is an example of a transmission-type light modulator ora DMD (deformable mirror device), which is an example of areflection-type light modulator. Display driver circuitry (not shown inFIG. 1) controls the elements of light modulator 16 according to datawhich defines an image being displayed.

Light which has been modulated by first light modulator 16 is imagedonto a rear-projection screen 23 by a suitable optical system 17. Lightfrom a small area of first light modulator 16 is directed by opticalsystem 17 to a corresponding area on rear-projection screen 23. In theillustrated embodiment, optical system 17 comprises a lens having afocal length f. In general, the optical system 17 which images lightmodulated by first light modulator 16 onto rear-projection screen 23 maycomprise one or more mirrors, lenses or other optical elements. Such anoptical system has the function of imaging light modulated by the firstlight modulator onto a second light modulator.

In the illustrated embodiment, rear-projection screen 23 comprises asecond light modulator 20 and a collimator 18. A main function ofcollimator 18 is to cause light which passes through rear-projectionscreen 23 to be directed preferentially toward a viewing area.Collimator 18 may comprise a Fresnel lens, a holographic lens, or, inthe alternative, another arrangement of one or more lenses and/or otheroptical elements which will guide light in the direction of a viewingarea.

In the illustrated embodiment, collimator 18 causes light to travelthrough the elements of second light modulator 20 in a direction whichis generally normal to screen 23. As light incident from collimator 18travels through second light modulator 20 it is further modulated. Thelight then passes to a diffuser 22 which scatters the outgoing lightthrough a range of directions so that a viewer located on an oppositeside of diffuser 22 from first light modulator 16 can see lightoriginating from the whole area of screen 23. In general, diffuser 22may scatter light to a different angular extent in the horizontal andvertical planes. Diffuser 22 should be selected so that light modulatedby second light modulator 20 is scattered through a range of angles suchthat the maximum scatter angle is at least equal to the angle subtendedby screen 23 when viewed from a desired viewing location.

Rear-projection screen 23 may differ in area from first light modulator16. For example, rear-projection screen 23 may be larger in area thanfirst light modulator 16. Where this is the case, optical system 17expands the beam of light modulated by first light modulator 16 toilluminate a larger corresponding area on rear-projection screen 23.

Second light modulator 20 may be of the same type as first lightmodulator 16 or a different type. Where first and second lightmodulators 16 and 20 are both of types that polarize light, second lightmodulator 20 should, as much as is practical, be oriented so that itsplane of polarization matches that of the light incident on it fromfirst light modulator 16.

Display 10 may be a color display. This may be achieved in various waysincluding:

-   -   making one of first light modulator 16 and second light        modulator 20 a color light modulator;    -   providing a plurality of different first light modulators 16        operating in parallel on different colors; and,    -   providing a mechanism for rapidly introducing different color        filters into the light path ahead of second light modulator 20.        As an example of the first approach above, second light        modulator 20 may comprise an LCD panel having a plurality of        pixels each comprising a number of colored sub-pixels. For        example, each pixel may comprise three sub-pixels, one        associated with a red filter, one associated with a green filter        and one associated with a blue filter. The filters may be        integral with the LCD panel.

As shown in FIG. 1A, Light source 12, first light modulator 16 andoptical system 17 may all be parts of a digital video projector 37located to project an image defined by a signal 38A from a controller 39onto the back side of rear-projection screen 23. The elements of secondlight modulator 20 are controlled by a signal 38B from controller 39 toprovide an image to a viewer which has a high dynamic range.

As shown in FIG. 2, a display 10A according to the invention maycomprise one or more additional light modulation stages 24. Eachadditional light modulation stage 24 comprises a collimator 25, a lightmodulator 26 and an optical system 27 which focuses light from lightmodulator 26 onto either the next additional light modulation stage 24or on collimator 18. In device 10A of FIG. 2 there are two additionallight modulation stages 24. Devices according to this embodiment of theinvention may have one or more additional light modulation stages 24.

The luminance of any point on output diffuser 22 can be adjusted bycontrolling the amount of light passed on by corresponding elements oflight modulators 16, 20 and 26. This control may be provided by asuitable control system (not shown in FIG. 2) connected to drive each oflight modulators 16, 20 and 26.

As noted above, light modulators 16, 20 and 26 may all be of the sametype or may be of two or more different types. FIG. 3 illustrates adisplay 10B according to an alternative embodiment of the inventionwhich includes a first light modulator 16A which comprises a deformablemirror device. A deformable mirror device is a “binary” device in thesense that each pixel may be either “on” or “off”. Different apparentbrightness levels may be produced by turning a pixel on and off rapidly.Such devices are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,441,791and, 4,954,789 and are commonly used in digital video projectors. Lightsource 12 and first light modulator 16 (or 16A) may be the light sourceand modulator from a commercial digital video projector, for example.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front-projection-type display 10C according to theinvention. Display 10C comprises a screen 34. A projector 37 projects animage 38 onto screen 34. Projector 37 comprises a suitable light source12, a first light modulator 16 and an optical system 17 suitable forprojecting an image defined by first light modulator 16 onto screen 34.Projector 37 may comprise a commercially available display projector.Screen 34 incorporates a second light modulator 36. Second lightmodulator 36 comprises a number of addressable elements which can beindividually controlled to affect the luminance of a corresponding areaof screen 34.

Light modulator 36 may have any of various constructions. For example,light modulator 36 may comprise an array of LCD elements each having acontrollable transmissivity located in front of a reflective backing.Light projected by projector 37 passes through each LCD element and isreflected back through the LCD element by the reflective backing. Theluminance at any point on screen 34 is determined by the intensity oflight received at that point by projector 37 and the degree to whichlight modulator 36 (e.g. the LCD element at that point) absorbs lightbeing transmitted through it.

Light modulator 36 could also comprise an array of elements havingvariable retro-reflection properties. The elements may be prismatic.Such elements are described, for example, in Whitehead, U.S. Pat. No.5,959,777 entitled Passive High Efficiency Variable Reflectivity ImageDisplay Device and, Whitehead et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,920 entitledElectrophoretic, High Index and Phase Transition Control of TotalInternal Reflection in High Efficiency Variable Reflectivity ImageDisplays.

Light modulator 36 could also comprise an array of electrophoreticdisplay elements as described, for example, in Albert et al., U.S. Pat.No. 6,172,798 entitled Shutter Mode Microencapsulated ElectrophoreticDisplay; Comiskey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,839 entitledElectro-osmotic Displays and Materials for Making the Same; Jacobson,U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,588 entitled: Electronically AddressableMicroencapsulated Ink and Display; Jacobson et al., U.S. Pat. No.6,323,989 entitled Electrophoretic Displays Using Nanoparticles; Albert,U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,932 entitled Electrophoretic Displays withLuminescent Particles and Materials for Making the Same or, Comiskey etal., U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,072 entitled Microcell ElectrophoreticDisplays.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, screen 34 preferably comprises a lenselement 40 which functions to direct light preferentially toward theeyes of viewers. In the illustrated embodiment, lens element 40comprises a Fresnel lens having a focal point substantially coincidentwith the apex of the cone of light originating from projector 37. Lenselement 40 could comprise another kind of lens such as a holographiclens. Lens element 40 incorporates scattering centers 45 which provide adesired degree of diffusion in the light reflected from screen 34. Inthe illustrated embodiment, second light modulator 36 comprises areflective LCD panel having a large number of pixels 42 backed by areflective layer 43 and mounted on a backing 47.

Where light modulator 36 comprises an array of elements having variableretro-reflection properties, the elements themselves could be designedto direct retro-reflected light preferentially in a direction of aviewing area in front of screen 34. Reflective layer 43 may be patternedto scatter light to either augment the effect of scattering centers 45or replace scattering centers 45.

As shown in FIG. 4, a controller 39 provides data defining image 38 toeach of first light modulator 16 and second light modulator 36.Controller 39 could comprise, for example, a computer equipped with asuitable display adapter. Controller 39 may comprise image processinghardware to accelerate image processing steps. The luminance of anypoint on screen 34 is determined by the combined effect of the pixels infirst light modulator 16 and second light modulator 36 which correspondto that point. There is minimum luminance at points for whichcorresponding pixels of the first and second light modulators are set totheir “darkest” states. There is maximum luminance at points for whichcorresponding pixels of the first and second light modulators are set totheir “brightest” states. Other points have intermediate luminancevalues. The maximum luminance value might be, for example, on the orderof 10⁵ cd/m². The minimum luminance value might be, for example on theorder of 10⁻² cd/m².

The cost of a light modulator and its associated control circuitry tendsto increase with the number of addressable elements in the lightmodulator. In some embodiments of the invention one of the lightmodulators has a spatial resolution significantly higher than that ofone or more other ones of the light modulators. When one or more of thelight modulators are lower-resolution devices the cost of a displayaccording to such embodiments of the invention may be reduced. In colordisplays comprising two or more light modulators, one of which is acolor light modulator (a combination of a plurality of monochrome lightmodulators may constitute a color light modulator as shown, for example,in FIG. 6) and one of which is a higher-resolution light modulator, thehigher-resolution light modulator should also be the color lightmodulator. In some embodiments the higher-resolution light modulator isimaged onto the lower-resolution light modulator. In other embodimentsthe lower-resolution light modulator is imaged onto thehigher-resolution light modulator.

FIG. 5 illustrates one possible configuration of pixels in a display 10as shown in FIG. 1. Nine pixels 42 of a second light modulator 20correspond to each pixel 44 of a first light modulator 16. The number ofpixels 42 of second light modulator 20 which correspond to each pixel 44of first light modulator 16 may be varied as a matter of design choice.Pixels 44 of the higher-resolution one of first and second lightmodulators 16 and 20 (or 36) should be small enough to provide a desiredoverall resolution. In general there is a trade off between increasingresolution and increasing cost. In a typical display thehigher-resolution light modulator will provide an array of pixels havingat least a few hundred pixels in each direction and more typically over1000 pixels in each direction.

The size of pixels 42 of the lower-resolution one of the first andsecond light modulators determines the scale over which one can reliablygo from maximum intensity to minimum intensity. Consider, for example,FIG. 5A which depicts a situation where one wishes to display an imageof a small maximum-luminance spot on a large minimum-luminancebackground. To obtain maximum luminance in a spot 47, those pixels ofeach of the first and second light modulators which correspond to spot47 should be set to their maximum-luminance values. Where the pixels ofone light modulator are lower in resolution than pixels of the otherlight modulator then some pixels of the lower-resolution light modulatorwill straddle the boundary of spot 47. This is the case, for example, inFIG. 5A.

Outside of spot 47 there are two regions. In region 48 it is notpossible to set the luminance to its minimum value because in thatregion the lower-resolution light modulator is set to its highestluminance value. In region 49 both of the light modulators can be set totheir lowest-luminance values. If, for example, each of the first andsecond light modulators has a luminance range of 1 to 100 units, thenregion 47 might have a luminance of 100×100=10,000 units, region 48would have a luminance of 100×1=100 units and region 49 would have aluminance of 1×1=1 units.

As a result of having one of the light modulators lower in resolutionthan the other, each pixel of the lower-resolution light modulatorcorresponds to more than one pixel in the higher-resolution lightmodulator. It is not possible for points corresponding to any one pixelof the lower-resolution light modulator and different pixels of thehigher-resolution light modulator to have luminance values at extremesof the device's dynamic range. The maximum difference in luminancebetween such points is determined by the dynamic range provided by thehigher-resolution light modulator.

It is generally not a problem that a display is not capable of causingclosely-spaced points to differ in luminance from one another by thefull dynamic range of the display. The human eye has enough intrinsicscatter that it is incapable of appreciating large changes in luminancewhich occur over very short distances in any event.

In a display according to the invention which includes both alower-resolution spatial light modulator and a higher-resolution spatiallight modulator, controller 39 may determine a value for each pixel ofthe lower-resolution spatial light modulator and adjust the signalswhich control the higher-resolution spatial light modulator to reduceartefacts which result from the fact that each pixel of thelower-resolution spatial light modulator is common to a plurality ofpixels of the higher-resolution spatial light modulator. This may bedone in any of a wide number of ways.

For example, consider the case where each pixel of the lower-resolutionspatial light modulator corresponds to a plurality of pixels of thehigher-resolution spatial light modulator. Image data specifying adesired image is supplied to the controller. The image data indicates adesired luminance for an image area corresponding to each of the pixelsof the higher-resolution spatial light modulator. The controller may setthe pixels of the lower-resolution light modulator to provide anapproximation of the desired image. This could be accomplished, forexample, by determining an average or weighted average of the desiredluminance values for the image areas corresponding to each pixel of thelower-resolution light modulator.

The controller may then set the pixels of the higher-resolution lightmodulator to cause the resulting image to approach the desired image.This could be done, for example, by dividing the desired luminancevalues by the known intensity of light incident from thelower-resolution light modulator on the corresponding pixels of thehigher-resolution light modulator. Processing to generate the signalsfor driving the light modulators may be performed on the fly bycontroller 39, may be performed earlier by controller 39 or some otherdevice and integrated into the image data or some processing may beperformed earlier and controller 39 may perform final processing togenerate the control signals.

If the low-resolution pixels are too large then a viewer may be able todiscern a halo around bright elements in an image. The low resolutionpixels are preferably small enough that the appearance of bright patcheson dark backgrounds or of dark spots on bright backgrounds is notunacceptably degraded. It is currently considered practical to providein the range of about 8 to about 144, more preferably about 9 to 36,pixels on the higher-resolution light modulator for each pixel of thelower-resolution light modulator.

The sizes of steps in which each of pixels 42 and 44 can adjust theluminance of point(s) on the image are not necessarily equal. The pixelsof the lower-resolution light modulator may adjust light intensity incoarser steps than the pixels of the higher-resolution light modulator.For example, the lower-resolution light modulator may permit adjustmentof light intensity for each pixel over an intensity range of 1 to 512units in 8 steps while the higher-resolution light modulator may permitadjustment of the light intensity for each pixel over a similar range in512 steps. While pixels 42 and 44 are both illustrated as being squarein FIG. 5, this is not necessary. Pixels 42 and/or 44 could be othershapes, such as rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, round, or oval.

The pixels of the lower-resolution light modulator preferably emit lightwhich is somewhat diffuse so that the light intensity varies reasonablysmoothly as one traverses pixels of the lower-resolution lightmodulator. This is the case where the light from each of the pixels ofthe lower-resolution light modulator spreads into adjacent pixels, asshown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7A, the intensity profile of a pixelin the lower-resolution light modulator can often be approximated bygaussian spread function convolved with a rectangular profile having awidth d₁ equal to the active width of the pixel. The spread functionpreferably has a full width at half maximum in the range of 0.3×d₂ to3×d₂, where d₂ is the center-to-center inter-pixel spacing, to yield thedesired smoothly varying light intensity. Typically d₁ is nearly equalto d₂.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, each pixel 42 comprises three sub pixels43R, 43G and 43B (for clarity FIG. 5 omits sub pixels for some pixels42). Sub-pixels 43R, 43G and 43B are independently addressable. They arerespectively associated with red, green and blue color filters which areintegrated into second light modulator 20. Various constructions of LCDpanels which include a number of colored sub-pixels and are suitable foruse in this invention are known in the art.

For front projection-type displays (for example the display 10C of FIG.4), it is typically most practical for first light modulator 16 tocomprise a high-resolution light modulator which provides colorinformation and for light modulator 36 to comprise a monochrome lightmodulator. Light modulator 36 preferably has reasonably smalladdressable elements so that the boundaries of its elements do not forma visually distracting pattern. For example, light modulator 36 may havethe same number of addressable elements as projector 37 (although eachsuch element will typically have significantly larger dimensions thanthe corresponding element in light modulator 16 of projector 37).

Projector 37 may have any suitable construction. All that is required isthat projector 37 be able to project light which has been spatiallymodulated to provide an image onto screen 34. FIG. 6 illustrates adisplay system 10D according to a further alternative embodiment of theinvention. System 10D comprises a screen 34 which has an integratedlight modulator 36 as described above with reference to FIG. 4. System10D comprises a projector 37A which has separate light modulators 16R,16G and 16R for each of three colors. Light modulated by each of lightmodulators 16R, 16G and 16R is filtered by a corresponding one of threecolored filters 47R, 47G and 47B. The modulated light is projected ontoscreen 34 by optical systems 17. A single light source 12 may supplylight to all three light modulators 16R, 16G, and 16B, or separate lightsources (not shown) may be provided.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. For example:

-   -   diffuser 22 and collimator 18 could be combined with one        another;    -   diffuser 22 and collimator 18 could be reversed in order;    -   multiple cooperating elements could be provided to perform light        diffusion and/or collimation;    -   the order in screen 23 of second light modulator 20 collimator        18 and diffuser 22 could be varied;    -   the signal 38A driving first light modulator 16 may comprise the        same data driving second light modulator 20 or may comprise        different data.        Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in        accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

1. An edge lit locally dimmed display, comprising: a spatial lightmodulator; a light source configured to cause an illumination on thespatial light modulator; wherein: the light source is at an edge andbehind a viewing side of the spatial light modulator; and theillumination comprises a low resolution version of a desired image;wherein the illumination comprises a series of lighting elements havinga spread function of 0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is a spacing between thelighting elements.
 2. The edge lit locally dimmed display according toclaim 1, wherein the illumination is provided by redirecting light fromthe light source to the spatial light modulator.
 3. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 1, wherein the illumination isprovided at least in part by reflection from the light source to thespatial light modulator.
 4. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 1, wherein the light source projects light in adirection substantially parallel to a plane of the spatial lightmodulator and is redirected to a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the spatial light modulator.
 5. The edgelit locally dimmed display according to claim 4, wherein the redirectingof light from the light source comprises reflection and diffusion. 6.The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 1, wherein thespatial light modulator is configured to cause a resulting image on thespatial light modulator to approach the desired image by setting thespatial light modulator based on the approximation of the desired imagewhich comprises a known intensity of light incident on the spatial lightmodulator and includes light from the lighting elements spreading intolight of adjacent lighting elements.
 7. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 1, wherein the illumination comprisesluminance values of a known intensity of light incident on the spatiallight modulator caused in part by spreading of light from areas of theillumination into adjacent areas of the illumination according to saidspread function, and, the spatial light modulator is configured to causethe illumination to approach a desired image based at least in part onthe luminance values of known intensity.
 8. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator isconfigured to further modulate the illumination incident on the spatiallight modulator to approach the desired image by setting modulationvalues of the spatial light modulator in consideration of theillumination that includes spreading of light from the lighting elementsinto light of adjacent lighting elements and image data of the desiredimage.
 9. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 1,wherein the illumination on the spatial light modulator includesspreading of light from each of the lighting elements into light fromadjacent lighting elements, the display further comprising a controllerconfigured to set the spatial light modulator to produce a resultingimage that approaches the desired image in consideration of theillumination and spread light.
 10. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to setthe spatial light modulator in consideration of known intensity valuesof light incident on the spatial light modulator to produce a resultingimage that approaches the desired image.
 11. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 10, wherein the known intensity values oflight incident on the spatial light modulator include spreading of lightfrom the lighting elements into light of adjacent lighting elementsaccording to said spread function.
 12. An edge lit locally dimmeddisplay, comprising: a spatial light modulator; a light sourceconfigured to cause an illumination of the spatial light modulator;wherein: the light source is at an edge and behind a viewing side of thespatial light modulator; and the illumination comprises a low resolutionversion of a desired image; wherein the illumination comprises a seriesof lighting elements having a spread function comprising a full width athalf maximum of 0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is a spacing between the lightingelements.
 13. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 12,wherein the illumination is provided by redirecting light from the lightsource to the spatial light modulator.
 14. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 12, wherein the illumination is provided atleast in part by reflection from the light source to the spatial lightmodulator.
 15. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim12, wherein the light source projects light in a direction substantiallyparallel to a plane of the spatial light modulator and is redirected toa direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of thespatial light modulator.
 16. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 15, wherein the redirecting of light from the lightsource comprises reflection and diffusion.
 17. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 12, wherein the spatial lightmodulator is configured to cause a resulting image on the spatial lightmodulator to approach the desired image by setting the spatial lightmodulator based on the approximation of the desired image whichcomprises a known intensity of light incident on the spatial lightmodulator and includes light from the lighting elements spreading intolight of adjacent lighting elements.
 18. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 12, wherein the illumination comprisesluminance values of a known intensity of light incident on the spatiallight modulator caused in part by spreading of light from areas of theillumination into adjacent areas of the illumination according to saidspread function, and, the spatial light modulator is configured to causethe illumination to approach a desired image based at least in part onthe luminance values of known intensity.
 19. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 12, wherein the spatial light modulator isconfigured to further modulate the illumination incident on the spatiallight modulator to approach the desired image by setting modulationvalues of the spatial light modulator in consideration of theillumination that includes spreading of light from the lighting elementsinto light of adjacent lighting elements and image data of the desiredimage.
 20. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 12,wherein the illumination on the spatial light modulator includesspreading of light from each of the lighting elements into light fromadjacent lighting elements, the display further comprising a controllerconfigured to set the spatial light modulator to produce a resultingimage that approaches the desired image in consideration of theillumination and spread light.
 21. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 12, further comprising a controller configured to setthe spatial light modulator in consideration of known intensity valuesof light incident on the spatial light modulator to produce a resultingimage that approaches the desired image.
 22. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 21, wherein the known intensity values oflight incident on the spatial light modulator include spreading of lightfrom the lighting elements into light of adjacent lighting elementsaccording to said spread function.
 23. An edge lit locally dimmeddisplay, comprising: a spatial light modulator; a light sourceconfigured to cause an illumination of the spatial light modulator;wherein: the light source is at an edge and behind a viewing side of thespatial light modulator; and the illumination comprises a low resolutionversion of a desired image; wherein the illumination comprises a seriesof lighting elements having a spread function comprising a convolutionof a rectangular function having a full width at half maximum of 0.3d2to 3d2 where d2 is a center-to-center spacing between the lightingelements.
 24. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 23,wherein the illumination is provided by redirecting light from the lightsource to the spatial light modulator.
 25. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 23, wherein the illumination is provided atleast in part by reflection from the light source to the spatial lightmodulator.
 26. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim23, wherein the light source projects light in a direction substantiallyparallel to a plane of the spatial light modulator and is redirected toa direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of thespatial light modulator.
 27. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 26, wherein the redirecting of light from the lightsource comprises reflection and diffusion.
 28. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 23, wherein the spatial lightmodulator is configured to cause a resulting image on the spatial lightmodulator to approach the desired image by setting the spatial lightmodulator based on the approximation of the desired image whichcomprises a known intensity of light incident on the spatial lightmodulator and includes light from the lighting elements spreading intolight of adjacent lighting elements.
 29. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 23, wherein the illumination comprisesluminance values of a known intensity of light incident on the spatiallight modulator caused in part by spreading of light from areas of theillumination into adjacent areas of the illumination according to saidspread function, and, the spatial light modulator is configured to causethe illumination to approach a desired image based at least in part onthe luminance values of known intensity.
 30. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 23, wherein the spatial light modulator isconfigured to further modulate the illumination incident on the spatiallight modulator to approach the desired image by setting modulationvalues of the spatial light modulator in consideration of theillumination that includes spreading of light from the lighting elementsinto light of adjacent lighting elements and image data of the desiredimage.
 31. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 23,wherein the illumination on the spatial light modulator includesspreading of light from each of the lighting elements into light fromadjacent lighting elements, the display further comprising a controllerconfigured to set the spatial light modulator to produce a resultingimage that approaches the desired image in consideration of theillumination and spread light.
 32. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 23, further comprising a controller configured to setthe spatial light modulator in consideration of known intensity valuesof light incident on the spatial light modulator to produce a resultingimage that approaches the desired image.
 33. The edge lit locally dimmeddisplay according to claim 32, wherein the known intensity values oflight incident on the spatial light modulator include spreading of lightfrom the lighting elements into light of adjacent lighting elementsaccording to said spread function.
 34. An edge lit locally dimmeddisplay, comprising: a spatial light modulator; a light sourceconfigured to cause an illumination of the spatial light modulator;wherein: the light source is at an edge and behind a viewing side of thespatial light modulator; and the illumination comprises a low resolutionversion of a desired image; wherein the illumination comprises a seriesof lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another atthe spatial light modulator.
 35. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 34, wherein the illumination is provided byredirecting light from the light source to the spatial light modulator.36. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 34, whereinthe illumination is provided at least in part by reflection from thelight source to the spatial light modulator.
 37. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 34, wherein the light source projectslight in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the spatiallight modulator and is redirected to a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the spatial light modulator.
 38. The edgelit locally dimmed display according to claim 37, wherein theredirecting of light from the light source comprises reflection anddiffusion.
 39. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim34, wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to cause aresulting image on the spatial light modulator to approach the desiredimage by setting the spatial light modulator based on the approximationof the desired image which comprises a known intensity of light incidenton the spatial light modulator and includes light from the lightingelements spreading into light of adjacent lighting elements.
 40. Theedge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 34, wherein theillumination comprises luminance values of a known intensity of lightincident on the spatial light modulator caused in part by spreading oflight from areas of the illumination into adjacent areas of theillumination according to said spread function, and, the spatial lightmodulator is configured to cause the illumination to approach a desiredimage based at least in part on the luminance values of known intensity.41. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 34, whereinthe spatial light modulator is configured to further modulate theillumination incident on the spatial light modulator to approach thedesired image by setting modulation values of the spatial lightmodulator in consideration of the illumination that includes spreadingof light from the lighting elements into light of adjacent lightingelements and image data of the desired image.
 42. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 34, wherein the illumination on thespatial light modulator includes spreading of light from each of thelighting elements into light from adjacent lighting elements, thedisplay further comprising a controller configured to set the spatiallight modulator to produce a resulting image that approaches the desiredimage in consideration of the illumination and spread light.
 43. Theedge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 34, furthercomprising a controller configured to set the spatial light modulator inconsideration of known intensity values of light incident on the spatiallight modulator to produce a resulting image that approaches the desiredimage.
 44. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 43,wherein the known intensity values of light incident on the spatiallight modulator include mixing of light from the lighting elements toproduce the smoothly varying lighting elements.
 45. An edge lit locallydimmed display, comprising: a spatial light modulator; a light sourceconfigured to cause an illumination of the spatial light modulator;wherein: the light source is at an edge and behind a viewing side of thespatial light modulator; and the illumination comprises a low resolutionversion of a desired image; wherein the illumination comprises a seriesof lighting elements, and wherein the illumination comprises anillumination pattern configured to reduce artifacts due to a disparityin resolution between the lighting elements and the spatial lightmodulator.
 46. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim45, wherein the illumination is provided by redirecting light from thelight source to the spatial light modulator.
 47. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 45, wherein the illumination isprovided at least in part by reflection from the light source to thespatial light modulator.
 48. The edge lit locally dimmed displayaccording to claim 45, wherein the light source projects light in adirection substantially parallel to a plane of the spatial lightmodulator and is redirected to a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the spatial light modulator.
 49. The edgelit locally dimmed display according to claim 48, wherein theredirecting of light from the light source comprises reflection anddiffusion.
 50. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim45, wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to cause aresulting image on the spatial light modulator to approach the desiredimage by setting the spatial light modulator based on the approximationof the desired image which comprises a known intensity of light incidenton the spatial light modulator and includes light from the lightingelements spreading into light of adjacent lighting elements.
 51. Theedge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 45, wherein theillumination comprises luminance values of a known intensity of lightincident on the spatial light modulator caused in part by spreading oflight from areas of the illumination into adjacent areas of theillumination according to said spread function, and, the spatial lightmodulator is configured to cause the illumination to approach a desiredimage based at least in part on the luminance values of known intensity.52. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 45, whereinthe spatial light modulator is configured to further modulate theillumination incident on the spatial light modulator to approach thedesired image by setting modulation values of the spatial lightmodulator in consideration of the illumination that includes spreadingof light from the lighting elements into light of adjacent lightingelements and image data of the desired image.
 53. The edge lit locallydimmed display according to claim 45, wherein the illumination on thespatial light modulator includes spreading of light from each of thelighting elements into light from adjacent lighting elements, thedisplay further comprising a controller configured to set the spatiallight modulator to produce a resulting image that approaches the desiredimage in consideration of the illumination and spread light.
 54. Theedge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 45, furthercomprising a controller configured to set the spatial light modulator inconsideration of known intensity values of light incident on the spatiallight modulator to produce a resulting image that approaches the desiredimage.
 55. The edge lit locally dimmed display according to claim 54,wherein the known intensity values of light incident on the spatiallight modulator include mixing of light from the lighting elements. 56.An edge lit locally dimmed display, comprising: a spatial lightmodulator; a light source configured to cause an illumination of thespatial light modulator; wherein: the light source is at an edge andbehind a viewing side of the spatial light modulator; and theillumination comprises a low resolution version of a desired image;wherein: the light source projects light in a direction substantiallyparallel to a plane of the spatial light modulator and is redirected toa direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of thespatial light modulator; the illumination comprises a series of lightingelements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatiallight modulator; the illumination comprises an illumination patternconfigured to reduce artifacts due to a disparity in resolution betweenthe lighting elements and the spatial light modulator; the illuminationcomprises a series of lighting elements having a spread function of0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is a spacing between the lighting elements attheir origin.
 57. A locally dimmed display method, comprising the stepsof: energizing a lighting device; reflecting light from the energizedlighting device onto a spatial light modulator; and modulating thereflected light to produce a desired image; wherein: the reflected lightcomprises a low resolution version of a the desired image; the lightingdevice is located at an edge and behind the spatial light modulator; andthe reflected light comprises a series of lighting elements having aspread function of 0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is a spacing between thelighting elements at their origin.
 58. A locally dimmed display method,comprising the steps of: energizing a lighting device; reflecting lightfrom the energized lighting device onto a spatial light modulator; andmodulating the reflected light to produce a desired image; wherein: thereflected light comprises a low resolution version of a the desiredimage; the lighting device is located at an edge and behind the spatiallight modulator; and the reflected light comprises a series of lightingelements having a spread function comprising a full width at halfmaximum of 0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is a spacing between the lightingelements at their origin.
 59. A locally dimmed display method,comprising the steps of: energizing a lighting device; reflecting lightfrom the energized lighting device onto a spatial light modulator; andmodulating the reflected light to produce a desired image; wherein: thereflected light comprises a low resolution version of a the desiredimage; the lighting device is located at an edge and behind the spatiallight modulator; and the reflected light comprises a series of lightingelements having a spread function comprising a convolution of arectangular function having a full width at half maximum of 0.3d2 to 3d2where d2 is a center-to-center spacing between the lighting elements attheir origin.
 60. A locally dimmed display method, comprising the stepsof: energizing a lighting device; reflecting light from the energizedlighting device onto a spatial light modulator; and modulating thereflected light to produce a desired image; wherein: the reflected lightcomprises a low resolution version of a the desired image; the lightingdevice is located at an edge and behind the spatial light modulator; andthe reflected light comprises a series of lighting elements that varysmoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator. 61.A locally dimmed display method, comprising the steps of: energizing alighting device; reflecting light from the energized lighting deviceonto a spatial light modulator; and modulating the reflected light toproduce a desired image; wherein: the reflected light comprises a lowresolution version of a the desired image; the lighting device islocated at an edge and behind the spatial light modulator; and thereflected light comprises a series of lighting elements, and wherein thereflected light comprises an illumination pattern configured to reduceartifacts due to a disparity in resolution between the lighting elementsand the spatial light modulator.
 62. A locally dimmed display method,comprising the steps of: energizing a lighting device; reflecting lightfrom the energized lighting device onto a spatial light modulator; andmodulating the reflected light to produce a desired image; wherein: thereflected light comprises a low resolution version of a the desiredimage; the lighting device is located at an edge and behind the spatiallight modulator; the light source projects light in a directionsubstantially parallel to a plane of the spatial light modulator and isreflected to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to theplane of the spatial light modulator; the reflected light comprises aseries of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element toanother at the spatial light modulator; the reflected light comprises anillumination pattern configured to reduce artifacts due to a disparityin resolution between the lighting elements and the spatial lightmodulator; and the reflected light comprises a series of lightingelements having a spread function of 0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is a spacingbetween the lighting elements at their origin.
 63. A display device,comprising: a spatial light modulator; and a lighting source; whereinthe lighting source is configured to contribute to the production of alow resolution version of a desired image to be imaged onto the spatiallight modulator; wherein the low resolution version of the desired imagecomprises a series of low resolution lighting elements that mix togetherto form a smoothly varying pattern of light on the spatial lightmodulator including a spread function of 0.3d2 to 3d2 where d2 is aspacing between the lighting elements.
 64. The display device accordingto claim 63, wherein the lighting source comprises a series of lightingelements spaced apart center-to-center by d2.
 65. The display deviceaccording to claim 64, wherein the series of lighting elements areproduced by an LCD panel.
 66. The display device according to claim 63,wherein the low resolution version of the desired images comprises aseries of lighting elements.
 67. The display according to claim 66,wherein the series of lighting elements are produced at least in part byat least one of reflection and diffusion.
 68. The display according toclaim 66, wherein the series of lighting elements are produced in partby optical elements in a light path beginning with the lighting sourceand ending at the spatial light modulator.
 69. The display according toclaim 68, wherein the lighting elements comprise smoothly varying areasof relatively higher and relatively lower illumination in the lowresolution version of the desired image.
 70. The display according toclaim 69, further comprising a controller configured to energizecontrollable optical elements in the light path in a manner to producethe lighting elements.
 71. The display according to claim 70, whereinthe lighting source is at an edge and behind the spatial light modulatorand is configured to produce light in a direction substantially parallelto a plane of the spatial light modulator, and, the produced light isreflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of thespatial light modulator.
 72. The display according to claim 71, whereinthe series of lighting elements are produced at least in part by atleast one of reflection and diffusion.
 73. The display device accordingto claim 63, wherein the lighting source is at an edge and behind thespatial light modulator.
 74. The display device according to claim 63,wherein the lighting source is at an edge and behind the spatial lightmodulator and is configured to produce light in a directionsubstantially parallel to a plane of the spatial light modulator, and,the produced light is reflected in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the spatial light modulator.
 75. Thedisplay device according to claim 63, further comprising a controllerconnected to the spatial light modulator and configured to energize thespatial light modulator in a manner that produces the desired image andreduces artifacts in the desired image caused by a difference inrelative sizing between pixels of the spatial light modulator and thelow resolution lighting elements.
 76. The display device according toclaim 63, wherein the spacing between lighting elements d2 is determinedat an origin of the lighting elements.